Aug 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka is taking measures to bring back around 200 migrant workers currently employed in Liberia due to the fast spreading Ebola epidemic in the West African region, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare Dilan Perera said.

The decision to bring them back was taken in view of the seriousness of the outbreak and the threat it poses to the lives of Sri Lankans currently residing in Liberia, he said.

The Ministry has also decided to suspend sending any Sri Lankan national to the West African region, Perera added.

He urged the relatives of Sri Lankans still in Liberia to inform them of the decision and take immediate measures to bring them back.

The World Health Organization declared Friday that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa that has killed nearly 1,000 people is an international public health emergency that demands an extraordinary response.

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria are currently affected by the outbreak.

Sri Lanka meanwhile, has established special round the clock health units manned by teams of doctors and health officials at the airports to prevent the Ebola virus entering the country.